Taça do Mundo de Triatlo de Lisboa

[Bessem Jday]

Fernandes thrills crowds in Lisbon  (May 6, 2007 )
Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal has just won the 2007 Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup, in front of an estimated 40,000 ecstatic Portuguese fans. After exiting the water an unusual 36 seconds back from the leaders, the 2006 world cup series champion, with determination on her face, was able to pull herself up to the lead group and run to gold in a time of 2:04:45. In second place was Michelle Dillon of Great Britain, 1 minute and 21 seconds back. And rounding out the top three was Christiane Pilz of Germany a further 24 seconds behind.

With her win, the 21-year old Fernandes moves to the front of the 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup rankings with 149 points.

Seventy-two women dived into the Atlantic Ocean to start the 2007 Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup. From the starting horn it was Jill Savege of Canada, Sarah Haskins of the United States, Julie Swallow of Great Britain, Annabel Luxford of Australia, who would later have to withdraw due to mechanical problems on the bike, and Pilz who jumped to an early lead with Fernandes, Dillon and a number of other top contenders over 30 seconds down.

Out onto the 8-lap, 40 kilometre cycle through the Oriente district of Lisbon, Fernandes was able to bridge the half a minute gap over the first five kilometres and bring a large group together at the front of the race. After building a small lead on the chase pack over the first few laps, the lead group would eventually be caught, bringing an enormous peloton of 49 riders together for the second half of the cycle leg.

Onto the 4-lap, 10 kilometre run course, Fernandes immediately pulled away and never looked back with the fastest run split of the day to claim her 15th world cup title. To the cheers of thousands of spectators in the enclosed stadium finish, Fernandes was embraced by her father, who has only ever seen his daughter race once before, as she crossed the line. Triathlon veteran Dillon, who managed to come back from an 84 second deficit after the swim, was able to run herself into 2nd place with another veteran in Pilz coming through in 3rd.

Sarah Haskins of the United States and Flora Duffy of Bermuda rounded out the top five with career-best performances for both these young athletes.

2007 Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup – Elite Women results (preliminary)
1. FERNANDES, Vanessa (POR) 2:04:45
2. DILLON, Michelle (GBR) 2:06:06
3. PILZ, Christiane (GER) 2:06:30
4. HASKINS, Sarah (USA) 2:06:45
5. DUFFY, Flora (BER) 2:06:47
6. DI MARCO MESSMER, Magali (SUI) 2:06:53
7. SWEETLAND, Kirsten (CAN) 2:06:54
8. SPIRIG, Nicola (SUI) 2:06:56
9. DITTMER, Anja (GER) 2:07:03
10. FRINTOVA, Vendula (CZE) 2:07:04

www.triathlon.org

[R31D1D]

Gostei dos esforço feitos para a comunicação social de evitarem passar a imagem da Vanessa com o cachecol do Benfica...senão tivesse visto em directo de manha, nem tinha acreditado